Observation of cluster decay of242Cm

Cluster decay of ${}^{242}\mathrm{Cm}$ with emission of ${}^{34}\mathrm{Si}$ particles was measured using track-recording phosphate glass detectors. The corresponding partial half-life is $(1.4+0.5/-0.3)\times {10}^{23}\mathrm{s}.$ The branching ratio relative to α decay is $1.0\times {10}^{-16}$ and the one relative to spontaneous fission is $1.6\times {10}^{-9}.$ A comparison of experimental results with the predictions of different theoretical models and semiempirical systematics is presented.